Bluebird Monitoring
Photo: E. Wallace
Master Naturalist volunteers monitor bird boxes along established "bluebird trails" weekly,
May through August, and document the birds' progress in nest construction, egg laying, and chick development.
Data goes to the Virginia Bluebird Society.
Photo: S. Shepherd
Bluebirds are cavity nesters and in a natural setting will seek nest sites in woodpecker holes in trees, but nowadays, since dead trees are often cut down for safety or aesthetics and wild places are shrinking, bluebirds and other cavity nesters may not always find enough tree holes to go around. Fortunately, they will often accept fabricated boxes of appropriate dimensions. The websites of both the Virginia Bluebird Society and the North American Bluebird Society give instructions for nest boxes, how to connect them to a pole, where to site them, and what kind of predator guards to add. A "snake guard" is installed on the box below. Besides snakes, it discourages cats, raccoons, and squirrels.
Photo: S. Shepherd
Photo: B. Schulkers
JRMN volunteers have established bluebird trails in several locations in Goochland and Powhatan Counties and follow the monitoring protocol of the Virginia Bluebird Society.
Photo: B. Schulkers
Photo: H. LeStrange
Photo: S. Reilly
Photo: E. Wallace
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, male bluebirds attract females to a nest site by carrying nest material in and out of the hole, perching, and fluttering their wings. When the female accepts a box, she will complete the construction of the nest by herself and lay 3 to 6 eggs, one per day. Only the female will incubate eggs, and she will not begin sitting on them until all are laid (this ensures they will all hatch at the same time!). When chicks first hatch, they are pink skinned and virtually featherless. Soon fluff appears, then feathers grow and develop.
Photo: H. LeStrange
Both parents share the job of feeding. They may raise a few broods in a single season, possibly using the same box. Once the baby birds have left the box (fledged), the parents will continue to feed and protect them until they are able to fend for themselves. The last clutch may stay with the parents through the winter.
Photo: E. Wallace